Chantelle Houghton says her first stint in the Big Brother house back in 2006 was "a once-in-a-lifetime" experience but she'd jump at the chance to go back in.
The iconic reality show – which launched the careers of the likes of Alison Hammond and Josie Gibson – is set to return to screens later this year, five years after it last aired on Channel 5.
Chantelle, who bluffed her way to victory in the Celebrity version of the show by pretending to be a famous pop singer, says it was the thing that turned her life around and she'd love to have another go.
“Definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, it’s such a great experience,” she says. “It’s four weeks of fun, twists and turns, no bills to pay. You get fed, watered and a roof over your head, so 100 per cent I would.
“It was the most incredible, amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience,” she says during our exclusive chat. “It was life changing. I was so glad of the opportunity. I loved every minute of it.
“Up until that point, I didn’t know where my life was going. Then I walked in that house and it shaped my whole future.”
The Essex-born star, who has just celebrated her milestone 40th birthday, famously met and fell in love with her first husband, fellow CBB housemate Samuel Preston, lead singer of The Ordinary Boys rock band.
They married shortly after leaving the house but separated 10 months after, in June 2007.
“We’re still in touch,” Chantelle reveals. “We still talk, we’ll send messages to each other about funny things we remember. We’re really, really good friends.
“It was a whole love story – pure and innocent and lovely."
Since leaving the house, Chantelle, who has a 10-year-old daughter, Dolly, with Katie Price’s ex-husband Alex Reid, has been in and out of the spotlight.
After a period of turbulence she says she gained almost four stone in weight but is now happier than she's ever been. “I’m concentrating on my life and I’m in a really good place with my health and my wellbeing.”
Proving the point, she spent her 40th birthday last week at a spa, meditating and drinking green tea. When it comes to dating – Chantelle split from fiancé Michael Strutt in 2021 – she's not in a hurry to settle down.
“I’m not looking, but I’m not ‘not looking’ either,” she says. “I’m the happiest I’ve been in everything, so I’m not searching for a man to fix me like I might have done years ago. I’m just happy with me."
Chantelle was speaking on behalf of ICE 36 (ice36.co.uk)
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